A landmark constitutional reform initiative has officially commenced operations with its inaugural meeting, as confirmed by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing. The newly established committee features unprecedented cross-sectoral representation, incorporating delegates from all political parties alongside significant civil society stakeholders, including religious institutions.
The committee’s inaugural session, held this past week, marked the beginning of what is anticipated to be a comprehensive constitutional review process. Merchant emphasized the diverse composition of the body, noting that ‘wide cross-representation’ characterized the initial gathering with participation spanning the political spectrum and extending to ecclesiastical representatives.
Among the preliminary issues identified for examination is the constitutional provision currently prohibiting clergy members from engaging in elective politics. This longstanding restriction has been flagged as a primary subject for potential reform during the committee’s deliberations.
The committee is scheduled to reconvene in March to establish a detailed operational framework and public communication strategy. Merchant indicated that this subsequent meeting will focus on developing a concrete plan of action, including methodologies for public engagement and the presentation of recommendations. The coming months are expected to yield clearer indications of the committee’s prioritized agenda and procedural approach to constitutional modernization.